Get set for TV’s
digital switch

Help will be on hand for those people who are still in the dark about the digital switchover with the Digital UK roadshow calling at Westborough in Scarborough both today and tomorrow.

Organisers are hoping this will help people better understand the switchover before making the leap.

During the switchover viewers who get their signal from the Oliver’s Mount transmitter group will notice a change in the channels they receive.

Bill Haworth, Digital UK’s regional manager, said that the switchover was a two-stage process which would begin during the early hours of this morning.

He added: “BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and BBC digital channels will become available for the first time to viewers watching the Hunmanby ‘relay’ transmitter.

“All terrestrial TV services will be off air during the night and are expected to be restored at the main transmitter by around 6am.

“In areas served by the Hunmanby transmitter, services are expected to resume by mid-morning.”

Mr Haworth said that the second stage would take place on Wednesday, August 17, and would see all remaining analogue channels – BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – permanently switched off and replaced with additional digital services.

He said: “Again, all terrestrial TV services will be off air during the night and are expected to be restored in some areas by around 6am and in other areas, served by the Hunmanby transmitter, by mid-afternoon.

“All Freeview, BT Vision and Top Up TV viewers will need to retune their equipment at both stages of switchover.”

The rest of the Yorkshire TV region will follow the same two-stage process, carried out transmitter by transmitter, until Wednesday, September 21.

During the switchover process people need to make sure they have the right equipment – such as a set top box, digital TV or sattelite service – so they do not risk losing all of their channels.

Recent research has shown that while the majority of people are digital ready, around seven per cent of people are still at real risk of losing their signal, and the worry is a large portion of these are elderly or disabled people for whom their television plays a big part in their lives.

This is why staff at today’s roadshow, which will also be there will be offering free impartial help and guidance in Westborough between 9am and 5pm.

Advisors will also be able to give tips on how to re-tune your television. They may also be able to advise elderly and vulnerable people how they can receive free help with the switchover through the Government’s Switchover Help Scheme.